Keeper of the great seal
(gcide) | Keeper \Keep"er\, n.
1. One who, or that which, keeps; one who, or that which,
holds or has possession of anything.
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2. One who retains in custody; one who has the care of a
prison and the charge of prisoners.
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3. One who has the care, custody, or superintendence of
anything; as, the keeper of a park, a pound, of sheep, of
a gate, etc.; the keeper of attached property; hence, one
who saves from harm; a defender; a preserver.
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The Lord is thy keeper. --Ps. cxxi. 6.
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4. One who remains or keeps in a place or position.
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Discreet; chaste; keepers at home. --Titus ii. 5.
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5. A ring, strap, clamp, or any device for holding an object
in place; as:
(a) The box on a door jamb into which the bolt of a lock
protrudes, when shot.
(b) A ring serving to keep another ring on the finger.
(c) A loop near the buckle of a strap to receive the end
of the strap.
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6. A fruit that keeps well; as, the Roxbury Russet is a good
keeper. Hence: Anything perishable that remains in good
condition longer than usual. -- Downing.
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7. An iron bar that is placed on the poles of a horseshoe
magnet, and held in place there by the magnetic force, to
preserve the strength of the magnet when not in use.
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Keeper of the forest (O. Eng. Law), an officer who had the
principal government of all things relating to the forest.
Keeper of the great seal, a high officer of state, who has
custody of the great seal. The office is now united with
that of lord chancellor. [Eng.]
Keeper of the King's conscience, the lord chancellor; -- a
name given when the chancellor was an ecclesiastic. [Eng.]
Keeper of the privy seal (styled also lord privy seal), a
high officer of state, through whose hands pass all
charters, pardons, etc., before they come to the great
seal. He is a privy councillor, and was formerly called
clerk of the privy seal. [Eng.]
Keeper of a magnet, a piece of iron which connects the two
poles, for the purpose of keeping the magnetic power
undiminished; an armature; called also keeper.
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